Circle of Live Retreat

This year, I had the privilege of participating in the Circle of Live // In Bloom winter creativity retreat, co-hosted by Sebastian Mullaert and Frank Wiedemann. Spending five days in the presence of such remarkable talent was truly transformative and is something that I will experience profound internal rewards from indefinitely.

Villa Söderåsen lies nestled in the serene surroundings of Röstånga, a small village in Sweden, and is the home of Sebastian Mullaert, a renowned Swedish recording artist and live performer. In the height of the cold and dark Swedish winter we went on peaceful nature walks in the surrounding forests and ate incredible local food. We explored subjects ranging from Creativity & Improvisation, Workflow & Studio Process, all the way to Cultivating Creativity in the Studio.

Sebastian and Frank generously shared insights into their studio and live workflows, their creative processes and, most importantly, their mindsets. Their contrasting approaches led to lively discussions and light-hearted debates, revealing nuances and fostering a deeper understanding of our individual creative paths. In witnessing their differences, I found invaluable space to reflect on my own journey and where I fit into this creative landscape.

While the retreat centered around electronic club-oriented music, the lessons I learned transcended genres and directly translated to creatively influencing my approach to sound design and composition for audio stories and podcasts.

This experience will forever hold a special place in my heart, not only for the friends I made, but also for the wisdom and practical knowledge gained along the way.

Circle of Live Retreat

BBC Sounds First